Monday, August 4, 2014

Final Push To Achieve MDGs And Create Sustainable Post-2015 Development Agenda 7




Today Monday 4 August, President Obama will welcome 51 Heads of State and Government and other senior leaders from across Africa to the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. The Summit, which will take place over three days, is the first such event of its kind and the largest event any U.S. President has ever held with African leaders.

It is an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen U.S. ties with Africa and highlight US commitment to addressing issues that affect US and Africa collectively.

The US has two main objectives: 1) US Leaders want African Leaders, and African Citizens, to come away with the clear message that the United States cares about the African Continent and is committed to an enduring, multifaceted and mutually beneficial partnership. 2) US Leaders also want to see the Summit lead to increased American investment on the African Continent and to more direct linkages between U.S. and African companies.

This Important Summit is coming few weeks after the UN Economic and Social Council, ECOSOC Meetings June 30 – July 11 wherein issues relating to Final Push to achieve MDG and Post 2015 Development Agenda were discussed.

International Society for Poverty Elimination, ISPE / Economic Alliance Group, EAG made spirited effort to see that good ideas and pertinent suggestions being made at the recent World Development Report, WDR 2014 Massive Open Online Course, MOOC Discussion Forum had positive influence on the ECOSOC 3 in 1 Meetings.

The Open Working Group, OWG on Sustainable Development Goals, SDG Outcome Document http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/focussdgs.html set out 17 Goals. Many of the proposed SDGs' coincide with good ideas and pertinent suggestions set out by ISPE / EAG on this Talking Development Change Blog, WDR 2014 MOOC Discussion Forum and on NEHAP Wiki https://wikispaces.com/join/3NNFMJT

This coincidence / adoption of ISPE / EAG good ideas and pertinent suggestions by relevant authorities with responsibility for developing SDG is Step 1. Step 2 will involve Actually Building Bridge between Lessons Learning and Lessons Forgetting and Actually Building Platform for all Community – Global Network Partnerships, Coalition Partnerships and Consortium Partnerships. Step 2 underlines reasons for the US Africa Leaders Summit to come up with Practical ACTION Plan for Ending Hunger and Poverty in Nigeria, Africa, US and World. The US Africa Summit needs to speak to tackling this challenge.

It is pertinent to note that many of the SDG Goals Demand New Approach to Sub-national, National and International Development Cooperation on Developed Countries, Developing Countries, International Institutions, International Foundations, Universities and Tertiary Institutions as well as National and International Media sides. 

For example SDG Goal 2.b. correct and prevent trade restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets including by the parallel elimination of all forms of agricultural export subsidies and all export measures with equivalent effect, in accordance with the mandate of the Doha Development Round require that US and Africa face New Direction and adopt New Priorities and this call for overhaul of the entire US National Security Strategy and Foreign Aid Apparatus that are best tackled by JOINT Action from identified Sub-national, National and International Stakeholders. The US Africa Summit needs to speak to this challenge.

It is pertinent to note further that changing from MDG to SDG Post 2015 is likely to be seen by African Governments and Africa Poor Citizens as changing to a New Program. The implication is that the MDG Brand is rested and huge funds that could have been put into Sustainable Development, is now put into Building SDG Brand. This huge waste is avoidable, if this US Africa meeting could address this issue now.

It is 110 Days since Boko Haram kidnapped Chibok Girls. When Nigeria Security Force could not free the Girls, World Leaders sent World Security Force to reinforce Nigeria Security Force, but instead of achieving freedom for Chibok Girls in few days, Boko Haram has let lose vicious attacks on multiple locations in Nigeria, killing more people, destroying more property and kidnapping more women and girls.

We are very concerned that Boko Haram appears more powerful than World Security Forces. The World Leaders need to remove this Shame now. It is no longer Nigeria Leaders Shame alone. Each day our young Girls remain in Boko Haram Captivity is One day too long. A comprehensive package of military solutions reinforced by practical implementation of SGD 17 Goals catalyzed by Final Push to achieve MDG in Nigeria, Africa and World is what is needed.

This US Africa meeting need to consider approving such alternative approach. However, this approach cannot succeed if there is no reinvigorated effort towards tackling US Corruption, Nigeria Corruption, Africa Corruption and World Corruption. 

It will be a Mirage seeking to tackle Boko Haram and End World Hunger and Poverty without first Taming Grand Corruption and Petty Corruption in the National and International Security System. The US Africa Summit must speak to this challenge.

The US Africa Summit presents another opportunity to rescue Nigeria from sliding into failed State by 2015. The conditions for violent take over, of government in Nigeria, are getting more favorable by the day, as Boko Haram continues to attack with impunity and Politicians seek to outdo themselves in vice. Should the inevitable occur in reality of Military Take Over, can US and other Powerful Countries in our World today have Moral Courage to chastise and sanction Nigeria for welcoming the Military again? The US Africa Summit must speak to this challenge.

If you require some clarification or additional information, please send email to:-

Lanre Rotimi
International Society for Poverty Elimination, ISPE /
Economic Alliance Group